-Thoughts about music, art, the music business, endurance sports, etc: PAYTON'S BLOG

Payton received a Fulbright grant award to spend a year in India continuing his vocal studies with the renowned Gundecha Brothers. He and his family will depart for India later in the year.

The New York Times just reviewed Payton's new work for the JACK string quartet, titled Radha. The Times has this to say about it: "The eerie harmonics of Payton MacDonald’s quartet version of Radha were hypnotically beautiful, with a viola melody spun over a background of slides and otherworldly effects."

Freejazz.com has just released an impressive review of Payton's new recording with Elliott Sharp and Peter Evans. Go HERE to read the whole review. Here's an excerpt: "There are moments when I wake up from being transfixed, that I want to start the track over again. The only thing stopping me is the knowledge that something else great is about to follow . . . Definitely one of the best things I've heard in quite awhile."

American Record Guide's new review of Payton's new solo marimba recording: "His performance is strong and he displays a large range of dynamics and impeccable rhythmic precision . . . The finale’s quickness points out MacDonald’s dexterity with some extremely fast runs that he absolutely nails."

-Payton recently got back from a month in India studying Dhrupad vocal with the famed Gundecha Brothers.

-Payton's new solo marimba recordings are out. The Solo Marimba Commissions, vol. 1 and Solo Marimba Improvisations, vol. 1, both on Equilibrium, both available everywhere online.

-Payton is working on a book about experimental music and endurance sports. Working title is Life on the Fringe. The book includes interviews with musicians Stuart Saunders Smith, Elliott Sharp, and others, as well as endurance athletes like David Horton and Kurt Refsnider.